Locomotive stoker



July 2, 1935. F. c. PICKARD LOCOMOTIVE STOKER 3 Sheets-Sheet l OriginalFiled Oct. 2', 1928 Y ATTORNEY July 2, 1935. F C, plcKARD v 2,006,775

LOCOMOTIVE S TOKER Original Filed Oct. 2, 192B 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VENTOR BY fran# Cf PJaa/d A TT ORNE Y F. C. PICKARD July 2, 1935.

LOCOMOTIVE STOKER Original Filed Oct.v 2, 1928 3 Sheets-Shea I N VEN TORfa/12 P/'aa/d @M e7 ATTORNEY Patented July 2, 1935 v UNITED STATESPATENT i OFFICE LOCOMOTIVE STOKER Frank C. Pickard, Erie, Pa., assignorto The Standard Stoker Company, Incorporated, a corporation of DelawareApplication October 2, 1928, Serial No. 309,856

Renewed January 10, 1935 19 Claims. (Cl. 110-101) The present inventionrelates to Stoker appanot fill the entire. fire door openingvbut leavesratus in general and specifically to the class of a space above which isordinarily closed by a stokers that are particularly adapted for useremovable cover but which affords facilities for with locomotiveengines. hand stoking and access to the firel box-Without 5 The generalobject of the invention is to prodisplacing the discharge box. V5

vide a new and improved Stoker of the character The discharge boxterminates outside the'locospecified by improving the conduit orconveyor motive boiler and arranged in register with-the system of theStoker, its fuel feeding system and lower side of the mouth of saiddischarge box also its distributor system. and extending through thefire opening into the l Specific objects of the invention aretoprofirebox of theA boiler is a distributor plate which 10 vide a novelform of intermediate conveyor elehas one or more air passages at itsunder side to ment or housing whereby the passage of the promote coolingof its floor. The inner end por'- fuel therethrough under the action ofthe feedtions of the plate within the firebox are formed ing means isgreatly facilitated and improved at'the sides with depressions or guidepockets M l and t0 DlOVide a new and improvedforrn Of riser whichfacilitate sidewise distribution of the fuel 15 or discharge box,together with certain adjuncts While leaving a wide space on the flooror bottom thereto. of the plate for direct action from the uid 'jets Tothe above and other ends which will subseof the distributor system.quently appear, the invention consists in the The fuel distributing jetsof this invention 'are features of construction, combinations of devicesemittedfrom a distributor head or nozzle which 20 and arrangements ofparts, hereinafter described is in the form ofl a plate-like elementdisposed 3S SSDGCiaUy applicable to stokers for locomotive betweeny therear of the distributor Vplate and boilers, but it will be understoodthat its use is the mouth portion of the discharge'box. nOif COIlned t0any One type 0f IBbOX 01 boiler; The, construction of the Stokerapparatus of the claims. pact one, the fuel from the tender falling intoIn carrying out the invention in the present the open trough portion ofthe conveying system instance, there is provided a novel conduit or fromwhich it is fed forwardly through a crush- Conveyor section or housingintermediate the 'ing member which acts upon the larger lumps opentrough which is Supported on the locomotive of fuelforushing them tosmaller and more suit- 30 tender and the riser or discharge box on thelocoable sizes for delivery to the rebox. The fuel motive, saidintermediate section or housing hav- Vafi-,er passing through thecrusher is conveyed ine a curved or arcuate bottom and verticallyforwardly by the intermediate portion of the conjdiSpOSed Sidesy ihuSgiVing it a U-Shafpe- Prefelveying system, the D-shape of which allowsthe ably, however, the top of the Section is Covered fuel to be advancedtherethrough without lfurther 35 so that ordinarily it is referred to asa D-shaped materially breaking it down or pulverizing it,l and housingand forms an upturned D-Shaped fue1 delivers the fuel to the lowerportion of theV riser PaSSag@ thlOughOu its lengih- Within ihS hOuS- ordischarge box, which as previously stated-coning is a feed screw whosespiral flights or threads forms in shape with the D-shaped fuel passageconform in curvature with the curved bottom of of the intermediateconduit, Said D-shape of the 40 the housing, and it 1125 been fOund inlJIaCiCe discharge box preventing rotation of the fuel as it that as aresult of this arrangement there is litbegins t0 rise therein. Thecolumn of fuel rising tie, if any, IOaiiin 0f the fuel With the SCllW,in the discharge box maintains substantiallythe herefOre the adVanCe 01feeding 0f the fuel same vertical and longitudinal cross sectional i5through the hOuSing WithOuil breaking up 01' area throughout, whereasthe gradual flaring 45 powdelng is much improved over prior oonshape ofthe discharge box, increasing'in varea S'-IuCiiOn. Y toward its oblongmouth portion permits thefuel Connected With the D-Shaped hOuSng O1COnto spread out laterally, thereby reducingV the vevor section at itsforward end is a riser or dispossibility of rotation of the fuel and ofcrushing charge box which expands or flares as it rises. it in itstravel therethrough.k Y 50 The lower end of the discharge box conformsin The rearwall of the discharge box or the cover Shape With theCOnVeyor section aforesaid and forming the hood portion thereof extendsupward at its upper end said box terminates in a mouth above thedistributor plate ina substantially conwhich is substantially oblong inshape orlike a tinuous line with its lower portion, a distance rectanglewith rounded corners. This mouth does sufficient to permit the angularlyadvancing Cal and the inVBntiOn iS DartiulS/Tiy DOinied Out in thisinvention is a particularly efficient and com- 25shewin'g'the'discharge'box.with its cover removedV column/of fuel torise to a height above the distrlbuting plate, Without pulverizingVpressure beingexerted upon it, so that the action of gravity Wlllbreakthe columnar formation of the fuel and place the lower and forward edgeof the sloping fuel face forward of the distributor head or nozzle.V

The jets issuing from ,the head will act upon the fuel toproject'it overthe distributing plate into the rebox, thus assisting the action ofVgravity in breaking the fuel column and creating a more or less fixedangle of repose of the fuel dependent feeding and distribution of thefuel; and the in vention will be hereinafter described more in de- ;tnilin Aconnection 4:with the accompanying draw*- ings, Ilm-which ,v

'1 :is f a 'fragmentary vertical. Alongitudinal :Mammal VView :showing`portions of the *locomotive with its re'box and tenderrwith theinvention appliedjthereto; Y Fig. -2 is 'a vertical sectional view takenon a -plsnejindicated by the section line 2-2 in Fig. 1 and-looking linthe direction of the arrows at laidfline; Y

Fig.- il is a plan -view of certain of the parts in Fig. 1 Vtogetherlwith the actuating moans for thefuel `feeding system; v .-PlgAfis 'anenlarged Vfragmentary plan view `of of theparts showninFg. v3; eyli'ig;Y fis an ,enlarged `yfragmentary. VplanV view so as more clearlyVto illustrated Ythe underlying vfiseanenlarged fragmentary verticalsecstional VView of the forward portion of the :conyeyorsystem includingthe. discharge box, to'- gether with fthe distributorplate anddistributor heed; f Y

'-7 is atransverse #fzlfft'slGrand Y 8 isav'similar section takenY onthe line of Fig. 6. Y I Referringrst to FiguresH 1 and 3, `thelocomoltive'iramerls-indicatedgenerally at wand the locomotive tender atIl, the tender and locomoifvevbeing coupled bya coupling l2. Thelocosectionftaken on the line .mtive-supportsa-boiler comprisinga'rearwater .l Wal1|3` provided with a vfire Vdoor 'openirg -Hfintothefirebox I5 at the lower part `19t-'Which Yiswiisposed a grate YHi. -Thefloor or theglocomotiveisdndicated at i1 and thejporrof-the -fuelbin i8on the tender at i9,

oor as usualfbeing vin rthe form-of adjustabiefsections'to'alfordradmission of the'coal or other-inclut desired points tothe rearlportion fuel conduit system. Y

' `The-rearipor-tionoi Asaid system comprisesan openfmouthedtrough 20supported on the tender tI-and horizontally disposed, this vtrough being-by -a-universal -joint .indicated gener# .fallyya't l,212| with/therearpart122 of aninter- Ainsediate, conduit section or housing. Saidhousing 'or oonduitsection risrpreferably lin -two parts, "the frontpart 23 being slightly smaller in cross section-#and ttinginto the'part22 fso as to profvide--artelesoopi joint toallowfor longitudinaladjustments@ The front portion of `the housing partfa-isconnected `by a'universal joint 24 with -the lower' end fofa riser or discharge-box.25

which extends or lcurves upward and inclines forward, terminating in amouth portion 26 whichv is approximately' horizontally disposed andopposite the lower portion of the re openingri, its outer face beingjust outside the back walll. Above the mouth 26 and closing the upperpart of the fire opening is a conventional removable cover 2-1 whichaffords accessto the interior of Vthe vrebox independently ofthe dis.

charge box.j V A .As will be seen more particularly from Figure 2,theintermediate conduit section or housing is of novel shape, thisstatement applying 'both to the inner and-*outer sections 22 and 23. Thebottom portions of the .sections as indicated cal. The tops of the sidesare joined by tops or cover portions 22c and 23C.

at 22a, 23 are curved'or arcuate while the sides V22b and 2,3b` aresubstantially parallel and verti tion of Figures 2, 4-6,.the"lower'partof the'A dis- Acharge box 25 where it is connected to rthe forwardhousing part 23 v,conforms in shape to said housing part. The rear wallandthe forward wall of said box or riser aresubstantially 'parallel butthe side walls expand or spreadA outward laterally and the top portionAor mouth 26V is substantially oblong or-,like a rectangle'but witharcuate corners. It, will be noted that while the trough 20 ishorizontally disposed, the housing 22, 23 inclines somewhat upwardvfromits Vrear towards its front while the discharge vbox rises somewhat moreabruptly forming an e1- bow of more than 90 with the housing, saiddischarge box .as it rises also inclining forward and its top curvingover :so 4that the mouth portion 26 is substantiallyy horizontal and 'inregister with thevfre opening I4 at its lower side. The trough andthehousing `are disposed below the Vfloors of the tenderand` the locomotivewhile the discharge boxonriser passes upward through anfopeningindicated motive deck l'l. i Y.

The fuel feeding system comprises two conveyorscrew sections 28 and.29jointed at 30. .The section 28 is disposed within the trough 20 which atits forward end breaker 3|. Y

'The screw section 29 is arranged within the housing 22, 23 andterminates atthe lower end of the dischargeY box 25. The screw feedingelements Y28 and 29 receive rotary movements'for feeding the fuel`through theconduit system by anyA suitable means, the 'means shown,herein comprising a spur gear 32 operatively. connected tothe rcar endofthescrew section 2li and interion is connected to a driving motor 3d,,preferat I'la in the ilocomay be provided with a-fuel Y ably`mountedfon the tender, V`by connecting means comprising -jcinted shaftsections 35,36 and 3,1. screw feeding elements will be rotated Vtoffedthe fuel forward through the trough-20 and the conveyor section vorhousing 22, 23 and thence upwardthrough theriser l25 into the control'of,the fuel distributing means Vhereinafter de-V scribed.

In practice -itV has vbeen yfound by Vemploying my novel form-ofintermediate conduit that the 1 tendency of the fuel to rotate with vthescrew as occurs in ,prior construction has been'subj stantiallyovercome, the-fuelbeing advanced in vthe conduit readily by'rthe 'fuelVfeeding device 2S and the -D-shape ofthe conduit overcoming anytendencyiof some rfuel to :churn ground and Under `operation of 'themotor 34 the( round within the housing without being advanced or fed bythe screw. Such churning would not only interfere withv the feed butalso would tend to break up and more or less pulverize or powder thecoal and thus increase the boiler stack loss.

It will be observed that there are spaces, indicated at s (Fig. 2),between the perimeter of the threads of the screw 29 and the side wallsof the conduit section, which spaces afford room for exfpansion, so tospeak, of the fuel as it is moved upward in the conduit by the screwaction. In other words, these spaces allow the fuel to spread andprevent its packing so that it may fall or pass readily into the controlof the screw threads as they turn, promoting the feeding or advancemovements of the fuel and preventing it from merely churning round withthe screw without advancing.

Corresponding advantages result in a more or less degree from theshaping of the riser into the form described.

'I'he upper part of the riser in the vicinity of the mouth is ofconsiderably greater width than the lower part, however, and thisaffords opportunty for control of the distribution of the fuel as it isadvanced upward through the riser byk the action of the feedingsystem..v

In order to control and regulate the advance of the fuel at the oppositesides of the riser, controlling means are employed presently to bedescribed.

In order to afford ready access to the interior of the riser ordischarge box, there is provided at its upper side a movable cover plate:i8 which is preferably dome-shaped or bulged as will clearly appearfrom Figure 6. Said plate is movable relatively to the riser and ishinged thereto as at l39. That part of the riser carrying the hinge ismade as a detachable cover 55u and is fastened to the main body of theriser by means such as the tap bolts indicated at 35h in Figure l. Thedetachable cover 38a is recessed as at 38e to receive the movable coverplate 38.

The movable cover plate 38 is interloolied with the riser by means ofthumb nuts or locking devices 40 cooperating with screws 4I extendingoutward from the riser and passing through open mouthed slots in thecover plate. .This cover plate 38 and the detachable cover 32m form ineffect the upper part or top of the riserand constitutey the upper partof its mouth portion 26.

For the'purpose of controlling and regulating the rising column of fuelat the two sides of the.

riser 25, a device is provided comprising a guiding device or vane 42arranged within the riser near its upper side, said vane being mountedon a stub shaft 43 which bears in an enlargement 3Ba on the movablecover 38 of the riser. The outer end of the stub shaft carries a handle44 by which the vane may be adjusted; and disposed between the handleand the enlargement 33e is a locking device 45 comprised in means forholding the shaft and so fixing the vane 42 in adjusted or setpositions. It will be seen that by varying the position of the vane therising column of fuel may be turned partly to one side or the other ofthe upper part of riser 25. Above the guiding or directing device 42there-is provided on the cover 38 a pair of parallel transversetrackways 45 which receive a pair of slide plates 4i,

each formed with a plurality of holes or ports` indicated at 48 (Figs. 4and 6). The slide plates may be controlled by a stoking barorotherirnplement 'applied to lugs 49 extending upward from the endportions of the Yplates and enabling them to be pushed in and out intheir tracks so that the holes or ports 48 may be brought fully intoregister with, or more or less caused to cover underlying holes or portsindicated at 50 in the cover 38. Y

The construction is such that adjustable air passage-ways are providedthrough the top portion of the mouth or the upper end of the riser,affording a draft of air passing inward towards the rebox and adapted tocarry inward the top portion of the fuel in the riser with which the aircurrent coacts. The air controlling devices comprising the ported slideplates 41 are preferably arranged in line with the angle of 'repose ofthe fuel Vat the top of the riser. In conjunction with the vane 42, theindependently adjustable slide plates afford means for regulating thefeeding of the fuel at opposite sides of the wide or flared portion ofthe riser so that it may be fed as desired into the Ycontrol of thedistributing means.

The fuel distributing means comprises a distributor plate connected at52 at its rear side portions to the lower part of the riser 25, thedistributor plate extending horizontally inward from outside the riserto within the firebox through the rebox openingV i4 and the floor of theplate being substantially in line with the lower side of the mouth ofthe riser. The plate 5| may be a unitary casting and is preferablyformed with one or more air passages 53 extending inward just beneaththe floor so as to afford more or less of a cooling effect thereon. Thepassages have mouths or communications indicated at 54 with the outsideair; and a lip 55 prevents the air from passing between the under sideof the plate and the bottom or lower side |4e of the nre opening I4.

An adjustable abutment in the form of a screw 56 is threaded upcentrally into the under side of the distributor plate 5|, the head ofsaid screw resting on the bottom |4a of the fire opening, theYconstruction being such that adjustability of the plate 5| is therebyafforded. y

At its forward o1' inside portion `within the firebox the plate 5| isprovided with outwardly ilaring depressions or pockets indicated at 5Tassistingl the sidewise distribution of the fuel as it passes inwardover the plate 5|. It will be seen particularly from Figure 5 that thepockets are so spaced as to afford a wide unobstructed flat surfaceindicated at 5|e on the floor of the plate The fuel distributing meansfurther comprise a distributor head affording a particularly compact andefficient arrangement. Said head is in the form of a plate-like member58 which is vertically disposed in an opening or space indicated at 58abetween the distributor plate 5| and the lower side cf the riser 25. Themember 58 as will be seen from Figure 6 extends upward slightly abovethe floor of the plate 5| and is curved or rounded at its rear side soas to lessen interference with the advance of the fuel. f

rI-*he member 58 is provided with a plurality of vertical passage-waysindicated at 59 and connected at their lower ends with pipes 65 leadingfrom fluid pressure means of suitable construction and which being incommon use have not beenr further illustrated herein. The passage-ways59 extend upward above the floor of theplate 5l. The inner face of themember 58 is provided with a horizontal series of small holes or'jetopenings indicated at 6 l, a plurality of said openings communicatingwith each of the fluid passage-ways 59 andthe outer openings preferablydiverging.-

It will beseen thatV the jet openings 6l are so disposed that vthe'fluid jets passing-therethrough act directly on and in line withv thefuel receivedv on the distributing plate Stand so as to obtain the most`direct andbenecial results in sweeping' and distributing it forwardthrough the firebox opening over the fuel bed on theV grate I6. The jetactionv isi effective Yto blowY the fuel forward 'and also laterallyover the iioor of thedistributor plate into Vthe rebox, the wide space51| facilitating i evenfandieiectivc distribution while the guidepockets assist in the side distribution of the iuelY over the iirebed'.Vl

I claim:

1. In a stoker for a boiler having Va firebox including an upstandingwall with a firing opening therein, a conduitY extending between thesource of fuel supply and the frebox ofthe boiler, said conduitincludingan intermediate Vsection having a curved bottom, substantially verticalsidesl and an .approximately horizontally disposed `top throughoutY itslength; and an upwardly extendingdischarge box connected to said sectionand leading'therefrom to the firing opening, the lower portion offsaidbox conforming with the shape of said intermediate section, saiddischarge box flaring or expanding as it extends upward and its mouthportion ordelivery end at the firing opensof:

ing ofthe rebox being substantially oblong in shape and a screw conveyorin the intermediate section terminating at its deliveryend adjacent.

the lower portionof said discharge box.

2. Ina stoker for a boiler having a rebox including an upstanding wallwith a firing-opening therein, a conduit extending between the source offuel supply and the rebox of the boiler, said conduit including anintermediate section hav-l ing a curved bottom,'substantia.lly Verticalsides andan approximately horizontally disposed top forming anupturned'v D-shaped fuel passage Vthroughout its length; and an upwardlyand for-A wardly extending discharge box connected tok said` section andleading therefrom to the firing opening,=the lower portion; of said boxconforming with the, shape of said section, the rear wall and theforwardwall of said discharge box being substantially parallel and thesidewalls diverging as they extend upward; the mouth portion or deliveryend of said discharge box at the firing opening'of the rebox being'substantiallyv oblong in shawn-:md a screw conveyor in theVintermediate section Vterminating at its delivery endVV adjacent Vthelower portion of said discharge box.

i fuel from the riser.

3. ,Ina stoker for a boiler having a rebox including anupstanding wallwith a ring opening therein, the combination of ya conduit systemexofthe boiler, said system including a. riser conduit extending upwardoutside the rebox and communicating with said firing opening, and asectional cover on the riser conduit including a hinged central sectionprovided with an adjustable air opening, said air opening beingsubstantially in the line of the angle'of discharge of the 4.v In astoker fora boiler having a firebox including anupstanding wall with afiring opening therein, the combination.Y of a conduit system extendingbetweenthe fuel supply and the rebox of the boiler, said systemincluding a riser conduit extending upward outside the rebox andcommunicating With'saidA firing opening, a sectional cover on the riserconduit includingY a. hinged central section provided withL anadjustable airv amooz'ze'z ,Y Y

opening, andan adjustable guide vane` disposed'y within the riserconduit adjacentthe-air opening.

5. In a. Stoker, a riser conduit, a sectional cover on the riserconduit4 including a .hinged central section provided with adjustableair openingsand air admission means including a kplurality of'Vperforated plates slidably supported-fatfthe upper portion of saidcentral Section.

6. In a stoker, a. riser conduit; a movable cover,

on the riser; air admission means including a plurality of perforatedplates slidably supported unV o'n the riser; and a guide vane in saidriser ad-` justable at will to guide the rising fuel in advance ofVaction thereon by-said air admission means. f

7. In a stoker for a boiler having a. flrebox Vincluding an upstanding-wall with a fringopening therein, the combination of ajconduit systemextending between-the fuel supply and .the rebox of the boiler, saidsystem including aconduit section andan expanding riser terminating/inacomparatively wide mouth; means for feeding fuel through the section andupward through the riser; and means for regulating the amount of theadvancing column 'of fuel delivered along either Vside of the expandedportion ofthe" riser, -said.

means comprising a guide within the riser, anda pairof independentdevices for icontrollingthe admission ofv air to the upper side portionsof the riser.

a conduit system including a. conveyor conduit and:

8. The combination with a 'rebox havingan. upstanding wall with a firingopening therein, of

a riser conduit connected thereto adapted-for delivery of a column of`fuel'tosadnring opening,A

a screw conveyor in said fconveyorconduit terminating at its deliveryendadjacent the lowerr portion of said riser conduit, thegconvc-ryorAconduitv having a curved bottom, substantially vertical sides and ahorizontally disposed top forming an upturned- D-shaped l:tuel passage'substantially' throughout its lengthV andthe lower portion of saidriser conduit conforming with the shape ofr said conveyor conduit, therear wall and the forward `wall of said riser ccnduit being'fsubstan#tially parallel and the sidewalls rdiverging as they i,

extend upward, and the mouth portion or 'delivery end of said riserconduit adjacent the firing opening of the firebox being substantiallyobllmgjln 9. In a conveyor system, the combination of a conduitincludinga conveyor conduit portion andY a riser conduit portion and ascrewconveyo'r'in said conveyor conduit portion, the delivery end ofsaid screw terminating adjacent thejunction of the aforesaid conduitportions and acting to force material through the riser portion, theconveyor conduit portion having a curved bottom, substantiallyverticalsides and a. horizontally disposed top forming anlupturned IDL-shapedpassage substantially throughout its length and the lower part ofsaidfriser conduit portion conforming with the shape of said conveyorconduit portion, the

rear Wall and the forward Wall of said riser'con-.

duit portion being substantially parallel and the side walls divergingVas they extend upward,` and the mouth or delivery` end of saidriserconduit portion beingr substantially oblong .in'shapa 10. In astoker, a discharge conduit, a, detachable cover on the dischargeconduit having a recess therein, a movable cover mounted in and closingsaid recess and beinghinged torA the first named cover, and said movablecoverprovided Vwith adjustable air openings. v

11. In a Stoker, a discharge conduit, vafneemt:-

able cover. onthedischarge conduit havingfa re''=v cess therein, amovable cover mounted in and closing said recess and being hinged to thefirst named cover, and an adjustable guide vane disposed Within thedischarge conduit and supported by the movable cover.

12. In a stoker, a discharge conduit, a detachable cover on thedischarge conduit having a recess therein, a movable cover mounted inand closing said recess and being hinged to the rst named cover, saidmovable cover provided with air admission means including an adjustableair opening, and a guide vane in said conduit mounted on the movablecover and constructed to be adjustable at will to act on the fuel priorto the action thereon by said air admission means.

13. A Stoker discharge conduit having its opposite ends offset withrespect to each other and opening in opposed directions, said conduitchanging gradually from an upturned D-shaped configuration in transversecross section adjacent its one end to a substantially rectangularconfiguration in transverse cross section at its opposite end, saidcasing flaring or expanding from its D-shaped end to its rectangularshaped end.

14. A stoker discharge conduit having its op posite ends offset withrespect to each other and opening in opposed directions, said conduitchanging gradually from an upturned D-shaped conguration in transversecross section adjacent its one end to a substantially rectangularconiiguration in transverse cross section at its opposite end, saidconduit flaring or expanding from its D-shaped end to its rectangularshaped end and having an element of a universal joint formed therewithat its D-shaped end.

15. A stoker discharge conduit having its opposite ends offset withrespect to each other and opening in opposed directions, said conduitchanging gradually from an upturned D-shaped configuration in transversecross section adjacent its one end to a substantially rectangularconguration in cross section at its opposite end, one pair of oppositeWalls of said conduit being substantially equidistantly spacedthroughout and the other pair of opposite walls of said conduitdiverging from the D-shaped end of said conduit to its rectangularshaped end.

16. A stoker discharge conduit having its opposite ends offset Withrespect to each other and v opening in opposed directions, said conduitchanging gradually from an upturned D-shaped configuration in transversecross section adjacent its one end to a substantially rectangularconfiguration in transverse cross section at its opposite end, one pairof opposite walls of said conduit being substantially equidistantlyspaced throughout and the other pair of opposite Walls of said conduitdiverging from the D-shaped end of said conduit to its rectangularshaped end, one of said equidistantly spaced walls being re-f cessedadjacent the rectangular shaped end of said casing.

17. In a stoker, a discharge conduit member, a detachable cover memberon the discharge conduit member having a recess therein, a hinged Ycover mounted in and closing said recess and being hinged to one of saidmembers, and said hinged cover being provided with adjustable airopenings.

18. In a stoker, a discharge conduit member, a detachable cover memberon the discharge conduit member having a recess therein, a hinged covermounted in and closing said recess and being hinged to one of saidmembers, and an adjustable guide vane disposed within the dischargeconduit member and supported by the hinged cover.

19. In a stoker, a discharge conduit member, a detachable cover memberon the discharge conduit member having a recess therein, a hinged covermounted in and closing said recess and being hinged to one of saidmembers, said hinged cover provided with air admission means includingan adjustable air opening, and a guide vane in said conduit membermounted on the hinged cover and constructed to be adjustable at Will toact on the fuel prior to the action thereon by said air admission means.

F. C. PICKARD.

